After finishing our second piece of Mana leaf I didn't think Tayatt was with us any more as the Vattare Acolyte was swaying to a tune only she could hear and trying to hold in one of her many yawns. La'lilly had joined us as apart from Bamba the st of Tayatts Vattare guards the other two were just as zonked out as Tayatt.

  "We should leave." Sapphire piped up once she noticed as well.

  La'lilly gave a nod her eyes on her own Acolyte. "Thank you for everything back there. We wouldn't have gotten out without your help."

  "Likewise. You showed us the value of a none combative role." Sapphire said back her tail already wrapping around my midsection to pull me to my feet.

  This caused the bunny girl to smile. "I can still bring it if need be. Just because I'm a techy doesn't mean I skimp on firearms."

  Aria chuckled as we made our way to the door. "Oh we noticed."

  I got one finale smile from La'lilly before the door was closed behind us and we were outside.

  "Training ground nine?" Sapphire asked.

  "Training ground nine." Aria responded.

  "Do I get a say in this?" I tried to ask.

  ""No."" Both of them responded in sync.

  "Would you really say no to another girl around you John? Especially as most would consider you their one and only mate once they become bonded?" Sapphire eborated with a smirk that vanished pretty quickly as she switched back into guard mode.

  Any argument I had died on my tongue at that moment and she knew it.

  "Aria hasn't." I meekly said back.

  Aria just wrapped her wing around me in the way that was almost traditional for when we were moving around. "For a creature that comes from a pnet with a even birthrate and a background like yours I'm surprised you ain't jumping at the opportunity for more."

  "It's precisely that background that makes me hesitant." I answered her as we moved from the dorm areas into the more occupied areas. "I come from a species that only has one partner and we try to stay loyal. So I'm hesitating because I don't want to lose what I have."

  Sapphire seemed to blush brightly though she tried to hide it. "Keep saying stuff like that and you might have a angel in your bed whether you want it or not." She pyfully jested trying to not focus on the fact I'd called her mine.

  Aria didn't respond verbally and just pulled me closer to her side under the guise of my protection. Not that it was fooling anyone.

  A healthy silence fell on our group as we entered the crowds as it was easy to notice something was amiss because of the amount of security moving about. Both Vanaress and Liliana had mentioned that others were attacked as well so it would have had to be a huge undertaking to pn and execute. I just hope all the Acolytes were as lucky as we were and whoever pnned this was caught.

  Learning from our teacher Sapphire and Aria both had their weapons drawn and pointed to the ground as we moved the unspoken threat hung dangerously in the air for anyone that didn't move fast enough. Luckily most were already alerted but the security presence and we got to our destination without issue.

  Like st time when Sapphire and I picked Aria we made our way into a side room and my mia pressed a button on the side of the wall.

  "So we're getting a techy that will probably be joining my harm that's not a harem yet as it only consists of Sapphire right now, anything in particur you guys are looking for?" I asked.

  "A girl. Someone that is hopefully more on the submissive side but most importantly your Mana picks as well John. Whatever you have that let's us share our mutations we need to focus on it for the time being. It's too good to ignore." Sapphire answered just as a small goblin like woman in a Captains uniform walked in.

  "Didn't think I'd get an Acolyte right now with everything going on. I presume you want to be fast with your choice?" The goblin woman asked in a slightly raspy voice.

  "Yes." Aria said back.

  The goblin woman nodded. "Well go ahead. I'll keep watching in case anyone tries something but they all know you guards are a little twitchy at the moment so I doubt their stupid enough to try anything, even if he's a male."

  The captain stood to the side to let us pass and followed behind at length as we entered the training ground.

  I was expecting the same as every other training ground I'd come across, just a rge room broken up into a running track, jungle gym and an open area for other activities. This one was simir but the running track had been removed and repced with more open area that was taken up by what looked like a schools arts and crafts presentation. Each and every one of the potential guards had a spray painted square that the were using to create gadgets with a ne free to move between them.

  Immediately I felt my Mana lurch in a direction it felt a new guard and while I noted it I was still just taken aback by how familiar it all looked. If you repce my old school buddies with fit monster girls that is. Half of them didn't even notice my arrival and the ones the did gave me an appraising gnce with a few giving me the once over then went back to their personal tasks.

  "You won't get much of a reaction from them Acolyte. Most want to become guards for the extra pay but a lot of them just want to use their mutations to better their own inventions. The Consteltion doesn't care either way. To them they'll either defend their pride and joys meaning you Acolytes and mages or they'll adapt, improve or just downright create new tech. Don't be surprised if they refuse but you might have an advantage being male." The goblin answered when she noticed my reaction.

  "Interesting." I replied not quite listening as I watched a cat girl nimbly flip up to the top of a contraption I had no idea of and add something too the top before jumping down and nding on all fours. She didn't even acknowledge what she'd done before she was running off to the side where a bunch of rejected supplies were located in search of something else before one of the others from around the room could find it first.

  Sapphire broke me out of my distraction with a nudge. "John we don't want to be here for very long. Please tell me you have something to go on already."

  "Yeah I do." I responded with a shake of my head. I would have enough time to admire the creatures of my fantasies ter, not that I'd expect Sapphire to let me as that woman seemed to sense when I was even remotely aroused.

  Setting the pace we made our way down one of the nes as I followed the metaphysical pull of my Mana. We still got looks from each of the girls we passed and I even noticed a few males in amongst them but no one really gave us much more than a gnce.

  "I like this better." Sapphire mumbled as she noticed the same thing. "This is the first time in public I haven't felt like everyone's trying to sneak past me to get at John."

  The goblin gave a snort. "You give smart people all the resources to solve their own problems and more and they come up with some creative things. Most of the girls here are more satisfied than any of the other grounds through chemical means of their own design or just a well used toys. I will say we've had to install a rule about said toys on the training grounds themselves as they lead to..... Distractions we'll say."

  That was an image I really wanted to see for personal reasons. Instead I quickened our pace before Sapphire could comment on how easy I am to arouse. I moved faster than I intended because I almost ran past the square that my Mana was pulling me towards but caught myself just in time.

  The squared area was full of miss matched machinery and tablets scattered in a circle around a woman I couldn't identify the species of.

  She was knelt down on her knees like she was in prayer with her eyes closed not that I was paying much attention to her posture at all. I was more interested in the fact she had deep purple skin that was visible around her uniform with her hair coming down to her butt in heavy waves matching her skin perfectly but even that paled when I noticed two long appendages that sort of looked like tentacles hiding in amongst her hair just without the suckers and octopus has.

  "A Zodathak." Aria said referring to the purple womens species. "I am all for one of them if this is what your Mana chooses."

  The Zodathak flinched at the voice and opened her eyes that seemed to glow a soft yellow. "Joining what?" She asked in a voice that was clear but also quite in a way that didn't fully compute to me.

  "The Acolyte here is interested in you Quimaru. Care to introduce yourself." The goblin woman said rolling her eyes and passing me her tablet.

  I still couldn't read it and handed it off to Sapphire.

  "Name: Quimaru'vellis Matradoum

  Species: Zodathak

  Favorite weapon: Slug rifle mark 2

  Mutation: Sleepless

  Notes:

  Top 10% accuracy

  Top 10% hand to hand combat

  Top 10% agility course time

  No Zodathak family

  Disciplinary marks: 4"

  "I believe that is a substantial enough description of myself." Quimaru said once Sapphire had finished.

  "Four disciplinary marks?" Aria questioned.

  Quimaru stayed silent, her yellow eyes staring at only me.

  "Sapphire has one as well so that doesn't bother me too much." I replied getting a surprised eyebrow raise from the Zodathak and a grumble from Aria.

  "You won't ask what they are for?" Quimaru sounded slightly shocked.

  It was my turn to act surprised. I didn't think I could, that's why I never asked Sapphire about hers. It was just part of the packaged deal and even if I had I doubt I'd have chosen differently. My Mana was also very insistent on this particur woman and until it steered me wrong I was inclined to agree with it.

  Humph. I keep referring to my Mana as a separate thing to myself. I wonder if that's a normal thing for Acolytes?

  "I haven't for Sapphire and unless she wants to I don't care all that much, what I really care about is if she can protect me. As for you? Your stats speak for themselves, top 10% in three categories can't be easy to achieve so you have me there. My only question is do you want to be a guard?" I indicated towards the goblin captain. "We've been told some might refuse so I'm taking that into account. No point forcing someone to do something like this if they don't want to dedicate themselves. Already had a few run inside that put my current two to the test."

  Quimaru gave me a smile before replying. "My mutation is sleepless. The Mana I have been doused with rejuvenates my muscles in a way that doesn't require I sleep at all. Easy to become better at things if I don't need to spend half my life asleep." She replied with the soft chime of ughter. "As for if I want to become your guard?"

  One of the tentacles came forward over her shoulder and began to glow a pinkish color as she rose to her feet. Her height was an inch shorter than myself and I mentally patted my back for hopefully not being the shortest of the group of she said yes.

  "May I?" She pointed to her tentacle that was glowing like I should know what she wanted.

  I did the only smart thing I could think of and looked at Sapphire for an answer. My mia tilted her head in thought for a moment. "Just so I'm clear. Your Mana has picked out Quimaru here?"

  "Yes." I replied quickly.

  Sapphire gave a nod putting her sniper in her storage and pulling out a side arm that I recognized as a psma type. She then directed her attention to the Zodathak. "You may but if his shield fres in any way I'm putting a bullet through your head. And I don't miss. Top 1% for accuracy." She bragged slightly but still held her gaze just so Quimaru knew she wasn't lying.

  Quimaru gave a sound that I hoped ment she was impressed because she tensed up slightly. "Most impressive. Then I hope this works out."

  She then offered the hair tentacle to me with a smile. I nodded still unsure and made sure my shield was still active before taking a step forward. Both my girls tensed up but didn't stop me.

  "My species can see memories Acolyte. I would like to see what kind of person you are to find out if we would be a good match. I believe the mia has already mated with you and if that's the case she will be trying to create a family within your guards." Quimaru answered my question as the glowing part of her hair tentacle touched the back of my neck. "Please just rex, I won't be diving that deep into your mind."

  Sure because that's what I'm worried about most. We're totally going to gloss over the part about Sapphire?

  Quimaru closed her eyes and hummed to herself. The glowing of her tentacles seemed to mimic her tune as she went along. For my part I couldn't feel anything apart from the tentacle. If she hadn't told me I'd have been blissfully unaware that she was dividing into my mind.

  "Strange." The purple Zodathak seemed to whisper. "You don't seem to remember your childhood at all."

  "Yeah had a car accident as a child. Doctor's said I have amnesia." I replied. "They called me John because there were no records of me anywhere and I had no reason to change it when I was let out."

  Quimarus eyebrows squished themselves down in concentration. "Accident...." She mumbled. "I see."

  Cryptic.

  The Zodathak gave one final nudge into my mind that I actually felt this time, kind of like an ice cube in my brain. Cold and slightly soothing but definitely uncomfortable. She must have picked up on something she liked because she instantly drew her tentacles back and grabbed my hands.

  "Yes. A thousand times yes I will become your guard as soon as possible." Quimaru almost shouted while looking between Aria and myself with visible excitement.

  Sapphire gave a scoff. "Arias mutation John. Quimaru here wants it." My mia said in response to the sudden shift in the potential guard.

  Oh? Why would she want a storage mutation so much? I mean it's handy but I would have thought Sapphires was better. Unless she just wants to carry around a bunch of tech stuff just to fiddle with on the fly. That was possibly the most logical thing I could come up with especially looking at all the gizmos she had around her right now. Actually that would be really handy now that I think about it.

  "I mean sure that's fine with me. Welcome aboard." I was met with an confused look from Quimaru but she shook it off pretty quickly and gathered up all her things in record time.

  I was briefly given a view of how flexible she was by the complete dismissal she had for bending her knees. It resulted in some rather interesting views of her ass in the air that I tried not to look at. Key word tried. Sapphire gred at me but remained silent.

  "Okay this is everything. Do you mind Aria? Just until I'm bound that is?" Quimaru asked stepping away from the bundle of stuff.

  "Sure. Any personal items you need to collect?" Aria asked back as she put everything in her storage.

  "Nope. Only one set of clothes and all my projects here. We don't get weapons over here so I'll need to pick one of them up once I'm bound." The Zodathak replied seeming to bounce now with the hope now that she knew what she could get. "But don't worry about that. I can buy some more items when we have a chance. My credit bance just got a rge increase with my st projects success. I can also spare a few for a new wardrobe if you would like anything John."

  The Zodathak raised her eyebrows in a suggestive way that I'm sure refered to when Sapphire and I had teased each other. Maybe she wanted to be part of it?

  "That would be great." I managed to croak out trying to hide he flush in my cheeks.

  Sapphire caught it and almost instantly understood. She however held a straight face. "Quimaru you take point until we've completed the bonding. Aria you have his left."

  The girls fell into position with almost practiced ease and we bid the captain thanks and farewell as we left. Sapphire had taken the spot just ahead of my right side so that if Quimaru did do something she could act as a barrier but I didn't think the Zodathak would try anything with how much she vibrated just thinking about her next mutation.

  Once she was bonded I only needed one more to be able to run dungeons. That thought brought a smile to my lips as I followed the purple women.